Postponing Games may become inevitable: Japan PM

Postponing the Olympics
over the coronavirus pandemic may become “inevitable”, Japan’s Prime Minister
conceded Monday, after the International Olympic Committee said a delay was
being considered as pressure grows from athletes and sports bodies.

The comments from Shinzo
Abe were his first acknowledgement that the 2020 Games may not open as
scheduled on July 24, as the coronavirus marches across the globe causing
unprecedented chaos. For weeks, Japan and Olympic officials have held the line
that preparations are moving ahead to hold the Games as scheduled, but there
has been increasing pressure from sports federations and athletes whose
training has been thrown into turmoil.

On Monday, Abe told
parliament that Japan was still committed to hosting a “complete” Games, but
added: “If that becomes difficult, in light of considering athletes first, it
may become inevitable that we make a decision to postpone. Cancellation is not an
option,” Abe said, echoing comments from IOC chief Thomas Bach, who ruled out
scrapping the Games, saying it “would not solve any problem and would help
nobody”.